Luke 8:26-29

Mark and Luke called this area the country of the Gerasenes, but Matthew called it the country of the Gadarenes. Gergesa (also referred to as Gersa, Kersa, and Kursi) was a small village about midway on the eastern shore of the lake. Gadara, one of the Decapolis cities, was a larger town six miles southeast of the lake’s southern end. [Note: Jack Finegan, The Archaeology of the New Testament, p. 62.] This incident apparently happened somewhere near both towns on the southeast coast of the lake. A third town with a similar name, Geresa, was probably the same as Jarash, farther to the south and east. [Note: Bailey, p. 119.] As Luke described the situation, the demoniac met Jesus and His disciples as they arrived at the shore. He was one of two demoniacs, but Luke and Mark only mentioned one of them (cf. Matthew 8:28-34).

Doctor Luke mentioned several symptoms of this man’s demon possession. These included disregard for his personal dignity (nakedness), social isolation, retreat to an unclean shelter, recognition of Jesus’ identity, control of speech, shouting, and great strength (Luke 8:27; Luke 8:29). This man was under the control of spiritual powers totally opposed to Jesus and God’s will.

The demons in the man acknowledged that Jesus was God (cf. Luke 1:32; Genesis 14:18-22; Numbers 24:16; Isaiah 14:14; Daniel 3:26; Daniel 4:2). They were not worshipping Jesus as God but were appealing to Him as their judge for mercy. They wanted to escape premature torture in the abyss (Luke 8:31; cf. Matthew 8:29; Revelation 20:1-3; Revelation 20:10).